Homework and Monsters

Chapter 9

In the early hours of the morning. Alexa, now having returned to her human form, sits curled up on her sofa with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her attention is on the three unusual beings that are fixing her front door. They are around four feet tall, hunched with no clothes. Their skin is hairless, pale and veiny, almost transparent. They have tiny, round black eyes and a large slit for a mouth with no nose or even nostrils. They don't talk but the constant clicks that they make, much like dolphins, seems to be the way they communicate. They move oddly, twitching and sticking to the walls and ceiling. The devices they use are unlike anything Alexa has never seen before. Strange shapes that emit beams of light, creating matter out of thin air. As a young man with white hair, enters the room, bare chested wearing only baggy black trousers, they signal to him with a series of clicks.

"Very good, thank you. You may leave." Says the man and sits down next to Alexa. They gather their strange tools and tap a button on a small round disk on their wrist. All three of them vanish. The clicks of their chatter and taps of their bare feet, signifies that they have turned invisible. The door seems to open and close on its own, then there is silence in the apartment.

"How are you feeling?" asks the young man as he turns to face Alexa.

"Like I'm losing my mind!" She replies, her eyes darting around the room. The young man wraps a blanket over her shoulders and starts to rub her back.

"I know it can be hard and frightening to come to terms with this new gift. As I explained last night, it takes time for your body to adapt to its new functions. The pain will soon fade, and with my help, you'll be able to use those abilities without the need to transform."

"GIFT?! This isn't a gift! This is a nightmare! Just how am I supposed to 'come to terms' with all this Jay!" She explodes in an outburst. She turns to look at the young man, her eyes are bloodshot from the constant crying.

"What happened to you? How did you get involved in all of this" she asks.

The young man sits back into the sofa and looks down at the floor.

"You remember how bad I used to get bullied? The constant bruises and black eyes, ripped clothes? All because I looked different. It got so bad that I wanted to end my life, and I almost did. I stood on the school roof one day, right at the edge. Then a man appeared. He offered me a way to get back at all the bullies that had tortured me. A gift that would ensure I would never be bullied again. I took it. The procedure is a lot less of an ordeal now. Trust me it used to be a lot more... strenuous shall we say. After I adapted, I took my revenge. I took back my life." A look of delight creeps onto Jays face.

Alexa reaches out her hand for his.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was that bad. I'm a terrible sister, I was supposed to look after you, to protect you." She says softly.

"That's in the past. I'm part of something bigger now. The work that we're doing will change this world forever. You can be a part of it too, you are like me Al, not everyone can keep their mind after the transformation. We're special. Join us, I can train you to control it and wield it amazing ways. We can be kings and queens of the next era of history." He grips her hand and holds it tight. Alexa stares back at him with a look of concern. His phone begins to ring, breaking the tension.

"Hello?... I understand... I'll be right there." He hangs up the phone and stands up. He walks over to a chair and picks up his white coat.

"I'll be back later this evening. Get some rest. Everything will be fine, I promise." He says, and leaves Alexa's apartment. Alexa lays down on her sofa and pulls the blanket over her shoulder, tucking it under her chin. She stares, in deep thought, then her eyes begin to close from exhaustion.